The Khaki Campbell was
developed in England during the early 1900's by Adele Campbell. It was admitted
to the American Standard in 1941. Though originally a cross of Indian
Runner, Mallard, and Rouen,
Campbells exceed all of these and most chicken breeds in egg production, with
some strains averaging 300 eggs per year. They do not require special care or
artificial lighting to produce a large number of eggs, which are white and weight
about 2.5 ounces (not much larger than a Leghorn egg). Thought not usually raised
for meat, Khakis make high quality, lean roasters of 3-4 pounds; they average
4-5 pounds as adults. Campbells are extremely hardy, are excellent foragers,
and are at home on land as well as in water. They eat large quantities of slugs,
snails, insects, algae, and mosquitos from ponds, but do not require swimming
water to stay healthy. The ducks are mainly khaki colored and the drakes have
greenish-bronze heads with brown-bronze tails, backs, and necks. They have green
bills.
Status: Minor. Though still not common, the Khaki Campbell is thought
to be growing in popularity as an egg-layer and backyard duck. Exhibition
Khakis do not have the same characteristics as production types.
Reference:
-
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, Box 477, Pittsboro, N.C. 27312
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